Dust hung in the air as Li Qingyu stepped through the broken gate of the Eternal Radiance Divine Sect. His sleeves fluttered dramatically in the wind.
There was no wind.
Behind him, Shen Yu walked like a man who had just punched his own family and realized it felt… disturbingly satisfying.
Lin Ziyan strolled last, lazily flipping a spirit coin. "Back home. Still standing. That's a win."
Shen Yu grimaced. "Sect Master… I think the Shen Clan might send assassins after me."
"Great," Li Qingyu said without missing a beat. "Make sure they bring gifts."
"…You're not worried?"
Li Qingyu tapped his temple. "I only worry about three things: sect funding, rogue chickens, and losing my hair. Everything else is a side quest."
"You just destroyed my entire bloodline's reputation!"
Ziyan nodded solemnly. "Yeah, it was amazing. Ten out of ten drama. You cried just the right amount."
Shen Yu looked like he wanted to crawl into a spiritual furnace and stay there forever.
Then, the familiar system chime rang out:
> DING!
System Notification: Shen Clan Fallout Detected
– Shen Clan: Reputation -75
– Dragon Tooth Sect: Reputation -50
– Wandering Sword Pavilion: Status Changed – Monitoring
Li Qingyu froze. "Wandering Sword Pavilion? That's new."
> Explanation: Senior sect allied with Dragon Tooth Sect. Displeased by recent events.
System Prediction: 89% chance of dramatic public challenge.
A moment later, the sky shimmered. A hawk-shaped talisman shrieked overhead and exploded in a blast of golden qi. Sparkling characters formed across the sky like a heavenly memo:
> To the shameless whelp of Eternal Radiance Divine Sect:
You have disgraced our allies. The Wandering Sword Pavilion shall not stand idle.
Second Core Disciple Luo Yan shall arrive in three days.
Prepare your best… or prepare to kneel.
The glowing message vanished with a thunderclap.
Shen Yu turned pale. "That's Luo Yan. He's… Foundation Establishment realm! We're dead! We're so dead!"
Ziyan leaned on her dagger like it was a bar counter. "I hope he's hot. I need a new reason to show off."
Li Qingyu stared blankly at the ruined cabbage field. "They didn't even send their First Core Disciple. How insulting."
> DING!
New Quest Unlocked: "Publicly Defeat Wandering Sword Disciple"
Objective: Defeat Luo Yan in the upcoming duel
Rewards:
– 500 System Points
– 1 Random Cultivation Technique
Bonus Objective: At least 10 unrelated cultivators must witness the fight
Warning: Opponent's cultivation exceeds detection range
Upgrade Available: High-Level Scan Protocol – Cost: 200 Points
Li Qingyu raised an eyebrow. "You've had a scan upgrade all this time?"
> Host never asked. Perhaps next time, consider preparing before insulting entire sects.
Also, you have 0 points. Maybe stop being broke?
Li Qingyu scowled. "I'll build my own system. One that supports local businesses."
He walked over to the former cabbage field, where the dirt still smoked from Ziyan's earlier 'harvesting.' A single half-burnt cabbage rolled downhill like it was fleeing the sect.
"Ziyan."
"Hmm?"
"Can we turn this into a battle arena?"
She squinted at the ash-covered earth, the rolling cabbage, and the fence one of the chickens was still perched on.
"With rope, confidence, and some dramatic banners? Absolutely."
Shen Yu stared at the two of them in horror. "Are you both insane? We should be fleeing! Or begging! Or pretending we're dead!"
Li Qingyu placed a steady hand on Shen Yu's shoulder.
"This sect never runs."
Ziyan raised a finger. "Except that one time with the bandits. And the donkey cart."
"Correction," Li Qingyu said firmly. "This sect learns. And this time, we're building an arena, slapping someone in front of a crowd, and letting the cabbage bear witness."
> DING!
New Objective: Prepare for Public Challenge
– Optional: Upgrade Battle Arena
– Optional Bonus: Attract Spectators
– Strongly Recommended: Practice Slapping Form
Time Remaining: 72 hours
Just then, Hu Daniu wandered over from behind a tree, holding a charred vegetable.
"Sect Master… I found dinner?"
Li Qingyu turned to him, eyes blazing with confidence.
"No, Daniu. That's not dinner."
He pointed to the blackened cabbage.
"That's the stage for our comeback. That's where legends will be made."
Daniu blinked. "…Should I wash it?"
Li Qingyu smiled. "No. Let the ashes stay. It's more dramatic that way."
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